up a bit and she gazed up at the sky; she could hear the halyards clanking on the various masts, and the seagulls screeching overhead. A couple of gulls were at the end of the jetty fighting over a stray chip that was lying on the ground, each of them doing a dance and hopping animatedly about, trying to get the morsel for themselves.
She shivered. It had become quite chilly all of a sudden. She breathed in the briny sea air but also a whiff of diesel fumes. Ed stopped by one of the boats. It was a thirty-foot sailing yacht with a cockpit at the stern and a wheel. Greg poked his head out from the cabin, then emerged on deck wearing a white T-shirt and biscuit-coloured shorts, boat shoes, and sunglasses. He flicked them up off his face and rubbed his eyes. ‘Hi there.’ There was a weariness about him; he looked exhausted, Maddie thought, but he gave them a welcoming smile. When Taffie saw him, the terrier started to yap at Greg, tail wagging and strained at the lead to get to him.
‘Hop on,’ Greg said, taking the lead from Ed so Taffie bounded on.
Ed leapt on board easily, then Maddie took Greg’s hand, trying not to notice how warm and strong it was as she stepped on board. He didn’t catch her eye, just looked out to the distance, then back again to make sure she was on safely. ‘Right, we’d better get going. I’ve packed a few picnic things and I’ll make coffee later, once we’re out of the harbour. I think we will be all right this morning but we need to be back by lunch. We’ll head out to Alum Bay,’ he said glancing at his watch, and then up at the sky. ‘Here, both of you put these on.’ He threw Maddie and Ed lifejackets.
Maddie fiddled with the straps and clipped her lifejacket on, then sat on the seat in the cockpit at the back of the boat, with Taffie curled up by her feet, as Ed and Greg wandered around the boat, yanking at the fenders along the side and sorting out the shore lines. Greg came back to the cockpit and reached down below the wheel and turned the engine on. ‘Ed, release the shore lines, will you?’ he instructed as the roar of the engine increased and Taffie cowered at Maddie’s feet. She put a reassuring hand on his head.
They slowly moved away from the pontoon. After a while, they were making good progress and heading out of the bay towards the open sea. The sun was still out and it was pleasantly warm on her face. All of a sudden the sun dipped behind a cloud: her legs were covered in goose bumps and she rubbed her hands together, looking up to see an enormous aubergine-coloured cloud had eclipsed the sun. She could hear Greg issuing instructions to Ed, who was tidying away the mooring lines and fenders into lockers. She watched them busy themselves with various tasks, proud that Ed was enjoying this so much.
‘Now what are you doing?’ She squinted at Ed.
‘I’m getting ready to hoist the mainsail.’ He grinned at her, clearly at home with all the paraphernalia.
She glanced towards Greg. It was hard not to admire his solid frame, taking control, helping Ed with the ropes, shouting instructions and joking along with Ed. It had taken time, but it looked to her like the initial animosity between him and Ed had dissipated. She felt a rush of pride that the two of them were able to work like this together on the boat, share a passion as – she gulped when she formed the words in her brain – father and son.
‘Ed, when I say so, let’s get the mainsail up.’
Ed confidently winched the mainsail up as Maddie marvelled at the big white canvas being hoisted so far above her head. Greg was at the wheel.
‘Unfurl the jib, Ed!’ Greg shouted. The sail plumed with air, as the boat started to heel. With that, Greg cut the engine. There was peace. Maddie smiled and looked out at the bluey-green waters. Herring gulls swooped and whirled up above them, calling to each other, dipping down to the cloudy water from time to time, breaking up the surface.
Taffie ran up and down the boat and then put his paws up on the side, barking at the waves and the gulls. A seagull swooped down low towards